Tuukka Rask's statistics through Game 2 of the Bruins' playoff series against Montreal don't measure up to his regular-season numbers. In large part, it's because the Canadiens have made it hard for Rask to get a good look at their shots.

Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger

BOSTON – As much as many Bruins fans may think the Canadiens are only good at doing bad things, Tuukka Rask sees things a little differently.

The Habs, Rask says, do a good job at making it hard to see things.

Perhaps the primary reason Rask’s goals-against average is uncharacteristically high (2.91) and his saves percentage correspondingly low (.895) through the first two games of this best-of-7 playoff series has been the Habs’ knack for getting in front of him.

“They’re doing that (screening) and they’re doing a good job getting the pucks through,” Rask said after practice on Monday. “That’s how they score a lot of guys – on the power play, obviously – but they’re getting those shots through when there’s traffic.”

The Canadiens are 4 for 9, 44.4 percent on the power play thus far in the series, with three of the goals coming on shots P.K. Subban has whistled through traffic (two goals, plus one that was deflected by Thomas Vanek), and another on a slick Subban pass to Vanek just outside the crease.

Plenty of other Montreal shots, however, have forced Rask to peer through bodies and fight to get in front of them – often at the last second.

“Even though it’s not a perfect shot, if somebody gets his stick on it, or there’s a rebound, it’s a good chance to score,” he said. “That’s where they’ve done a good job. That’s what you have to do in this league to score goals.”

Rask can’t recall any right-place, right-time saves – shots he didn’t see, but stopped because they happened to hit him.

Left wing Jordan Caron, who filled in admirably when the B’s were without Chris Kelly (back) and Daniel Paille (concussion) in Round 1 against Detroit, didn’t make the cut when Paille returned for Game 1 against the Habs. He was back in the lineup in Game 2, though, when coach Claude Julien pushed Paille up from the Merlot Line to the third line with Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson, dropped Caron into Paille’s usual position, and scratched rookie Justin Florek.

“(Caron) played well” against Detroit, Julien said. “I thought he worked hard, he competed hard along the boards, (he was) going to the net hard. … It’s just one of those things that you feel that he’s earned the opportunity to get back in there. No matter how much ice he gets (only 4:52 in Game 2, in which he took one penalty), whenever he’s out there, he’s giving everything he’s got.”

Drafted in the first round five years ago (25th overall in 2009), Caron’s fourth season in the organization – and first without any time at AHL Providence – was a struggle. He played only 35 games, posted career-low offensive totals (1 goal, 2 assists), and was minus-8. His first playoff round was solid, though, with one goal and a plus-1 rating, averaging about a dozen shifts per game with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton.

“I was hoping I was going to be in the first game” against the Canadiens, Caron said. “When (Julien) told me I was in the second game, I was pretty excited. That’s the kind of game you want to play in. You want to be a part of those rivalries.”

Although this is the first time he’s participated in a Boston-Montreal playoff, it hits close to home for Caron, who’s from Quebec City.

“It’s always special to play against Montreal,” he said. “There’s always a lot more family and friends watching. They probably wouldn’t wear a Bruins jersey in Montreal, but they’re really supportive. A lot of people back home are cheering for us.”

AROUND THE BOARDS

Paille, who scored a goal in Game 2, remained on the third line in Monday’s practice, while Caron and Florek alternated at left wing with the Merlot line. … Defenseman Andrej Meszaros, who replaced Matt Barkowski in Game 2, continued to skate with Johnny Boychuk on Tuesday. Bartkowski formed half of an extra pairing with Dennis Seidenberg (knee surgery), who stayed out of contact drills. … Kelly and defenseman Corey Potter (shoulder) still aren’t skating.